Our Mission: The Friends of Mosquito Hill support, promote and enhance View Mosquito Hill Nature Center. We realize this mission through from the volunteerism, fundraising and Hill our shared passion for nature. Winter 2011-2012 • A newsletter for friends and members of Friends of Mosquito Hill, Inc. Green Gift Opens Door for Energy Education Exhibit
Mike Hibbard, Director/Naturalist The panel will display how much n October, Friends of Mosquito Hill electricity is produced by various was awarded a $2,500 grant from energy sources and how much energy Holiday Greetings to Our Cellcom through its Green Gifts is required to operate each appliance. I Interpretive signage is planned, targeted Members, New & Long-time: program, which utilizes funds from recycled cell phones to make grants toward the general public but also for our We welcome the following new to charitable organizations for green naturalist staff to use during educational members to Friends of Mosquito Hill: initiatives. Our grant will be used with programs. • Roberta Alder matching funds from FOMH to develop The exhibit will not only demonstrate • Jamie Bessette a new interactive energy education how electricity is generated but we want • Shelley Podell exhibit for the nature center’s interpretive it to facilitate discussions about renewable • Catherine Yurk building, including a bicycle like one • Harriet Zuiker vs. non-renewable energy sources and you’ve never seen before. the importance of energy conservation f you joined since July, your It’s called the energy cycle and it features in the home and at work. We hope that membership is in effect until December a bicycle connected to a generator. It it will help to change people’s attitudes I2012. For others, please note that your demonstrates how much human energy and behaviors toward energy use and membership expires on December 31, is required to operate various types of conservation. 2011. Your renewal letter should be in the mail shortly, if you haven’t received it light bulbs and common household The energy cycle display is anticipated already. Please take a moment to fill out appliances. The human energy, provided to be the first in a series of upgrades to the form and return it with your payment. by willing visitors, will be equated to the nature center’s exhibits over the next FOMH relies on your donation to support energy sources that are commonly used two to three years. Nature center staff our volunteer program, outdoor classroom to produce commercial electricity. The experiences for youth and much more. and the FOMH board of directors are display also includes a small solar panel currently working on a strategy for the and wind turbine to compare renewable development of and funding for a series In the spirit of the season, won’t you energy sources with non-renewable please consider an additional holiday or of improvements to the programs and end-of-year contribution to FOMH? ones. facilities at MHNC. We’re grateful to We’re enthusiastic about starting 2012 Cellcom for their grant and delighted to on strong financial footing to ensure The generator, solar panel and wind turbine are connected to a control panel provide this new and exciting learning vibrant programming and support for our v volunteer team. equipped with volt-meters, banks of opportunity for our visitors. incandescent, LED lights and compact Your tax-deductible check may be made to fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and FOMH, Inc. and mailed to Mosquito Hill outlets to power appliances such as a fan, Nature Center, N3880 Rogers Road, New radio or hair dryer. London WI 54961. Secure online giving is also available by visiting www.mosquitohill. org and clicking on the “Membership” Picture this: you hop on the bike and link. start pedaling. It’s pretty easy making the CFL glow, but pedaling becomes a The board of directors of FOMH and little tougher when you try to power the the staff of MHNC send best wishes for a incandescent bulb and more strenuous Photo of energy cycle courtesy of peaceful holiday season. Thanks for being yet when the hair dryer is turned on. www.thepedalpower.com our friend! v concepts. Active learning experiences can be anything from games to hands-on activities to half day hikes. Each season MHNC staff offers learning opportunities through several day-long enrichment sessions. These sessions expand the knowledge base of volunteer naturalists and introduce different ways of teaching seasonal concepts. Opportunities to shadow and team-teach with experienced volunteers and staff are also available. A day at MHNC is as much of a learning adventure for volunteer staff as it is for the kids they are guiding. No two days Volunteer Naturalists are alike. There are always unexpected “teachable moments” that excite and amaze. Seeing the natural world of Mosquito at Mosquito Hill Hill through the eyes of kids is a reward many times over.
Pete Nagan, Volunteer Naturalist, FOMH Board member Wouldn’t it be great to give some of your free time as a volunteer naturalist helping kids connect with the outdoors and fostering a shared stewardship of our natural resources? “ re we gonna see snakes? Are there bears here? What If you have an interest in and abilities to interact with a variety time’s lunch?” The barrage of rapid-fire questions of kids and adults, good oral communication skills, flexibility Aannounces the start of another school day at Mosquito to work as a team member and independently, and enjoy being Hill Nature Center with a group of excited kids eagerly outdoors then you are whom we are looking for as a volunteer anticipating the learning adventures that lie ahead. naturalist! Contact Volunteer Coordinator Pat Lund-Moe for v MHNC hosts dozens of school groups during the fall, winter more information. and spring seasons. Most groups are elementary classes from kindergarteners through fifth graders and range in size from a couple dozen kids to seventy-five students or more. Though the school groups may be large, instruction at MHNC is provided for small groups of ten to fifteen students. To accomplish this goal, the MHNC staff relies on assistance from a dedicated cadre of volunteer naturalists. Volunteer naturalists have diverse backgrounds. Some are self-taught outdoor enthusiasts who gladly share their interests. Others are retired teachers who enjoy extending their educational career. Some have advanced education in environmental sciences who generously share their expertise. All have a knack for introducing kids to the wonders of the outdoors and helping them develop an appreciation for the natural environment. MHNC has a well developed curriculum of concepts for each of the three seasons. Volunteers are provided in-depth written materials that offer many options for teaching these core Pete Nagan and students on top of Mosquito Hill. Photo submitted by Brenda Janssen.
BOARD: Interpretive Building Hours: WINTER 2011-2012 Steve Bongers, Luvata Appleton, LLC, Grand Chute Tuesday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m – FOMH board president Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Jennifer Goggins, Kimberly-Clark Corp., Neenah STAFF: Rebecca McClone, Familiar Grounds & Mike Hibbard, Director/Naturalist View Book World, New London Steve Petznick, Assistant Naturalist from the Pete Nagan, Retired Teacher, Neenah Jessica Miller, Assistant Naturalist Hill Jim Olson, Wolf River Community Bank, Hortonville Mary Swifka, Staff Assistant Alan Peche, Barlow Planetarium, Menasha Chris Brandt, Outagamie County Parks Director VOL XXXVII • NO 4 Michael Reinke, NWTC, Green Bay Pat Lund-Moe, Volunteer Coordinator Tammy Stille, Educator, Black Creek Kelly Wedge, Appleton, Inc., Neenah NEWSLETTER: Tony Wickham, Praxilient, Inc., Appleton Editors - Pat Brown, Ginny Buschke, Chris Worzalla, Kimberly-Clark Corp., Neenah Susan Hankin, Mary Swifka View From The Hill is published Layout & Design - Jennifer Heisler four times per year by ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO: NEW Printing, Appleton Friends of Mosquito Hill, Inc. Friends of Mosquito Hill Outlook Graphics, Neenah N3880 Rogers Road • New London WI 54961 (920) 779-6433 • www.mosquitohill.org
VIEW FROM THE HILL 2 WINTER 2011-2012 Ask the Naturalist Jessica Miller, Assistant Naturalist Winter 2012: What Does the Future Hold?
Through Friday, December 30 Finally Up North, paintings by Pamela Sweet Pamela Sweet would have never dreamed that she would live up north. But technology opened up the opportunity for her husband to work from home. They downsized, sold their home in southern Wisconsin and now live and work on a lake in Marinette County. No more traveling in the car to paint in natural settings; Pamela’s studio is only twenty feet from her home. When Graphic from accuweather.com she is painting outdoors, she has so many subjects right he rumors have started. If it isn’t the local meteorologist’s outside her door that she will never have time to paint them prediction, then it’s the latest report in the Farmer’s all. Almanac that has many people asking, “Will this really be T Website: www.pamela-sweet.fineartamerica.com a severe winter…again?” What I find comical is the fact that meteorologists seem to have a challenge predicting an accurate 7-day forecast yet now they are being asked to predict an entire seasonal forecast several months in advance! That said, the question begs to be answered. h La Niña is a phenomenon that occurs when the ocean surface temperatures near the equator in the central and eastern Pacific Sat., January 7, 2012 - Sun., February 26, 2012 Ocean are cooler than normal, causing disruptions of global Pictures in Wood, Original paintings and limited weather patterns. La Niñas typically produce volatile weather edition prints by Joan White in the Midwest and Northeast due to their influence on the jet Meet the Artist reception: stream. And for the second year in a row, she will make her Saturday, January 7, 1:00-3:00 PM presence known. This year, however, the jet stream is predicted to steer storms into the Great Lakes region (with Chicago being After earning her BFA from the School of the Art Institute the epicenter) as opposed to last years New York City area. of Chicago, Joan White bought a 100 year old church near Weather professionals are warning us Midwesterners to brace Lakewood to function as her studio and gallery. She has for frigid temps and abundant snowfall. been an artist for the past 28 years. But wait! There’s more! If La Niña was the only factor Joan’s unique process turns gnarled, knotty pieces of wood influencing our weather patterns, I might consider a job in into beautiful works of art. Using thin washes of oil paint, weather prediction. Enter arctic oscillation, the wrench that Joan follows the grains and patterns of the wood, creating could alter Senorita Niña. The arctic oscillation, which refers multidimensional layers of animals, birds, trees and foliage. to opposing atmospheric pressure patterns in northern middle Each painting tells a story of nature and shares the artist’s and high latitudes, is always present (unlike La Niña), and can deep love for the forest and its creatures. fluctuate between positive and negative phases. It’s the negative phase that pushes cold air into the US from Canada and can Joan has won several awards and has been featured in generate strong shifts in climate patterns that could overpower various publications such as Log Home Living and Wildlife or intensify La Niña’s typical impact. Arctic oscillation Art. She has exhibited her work extensively and has occurrences typically last a few weeks and are difficult to collectors all over the US and abroad. Her book, Pictures predict more than one to two weeks in advance. in Wood, tells the story of her process and features favorite paintings. So, what does all of this mean? Since no meteorologist will place money on a long-range forecast, I would take the above Website: www.joanwhite.com information with a grain of salt. Just make sure you have a fifty pound bag of the stuff and a shovel in your trunk this winter. v
VIEW FROM THE HILL 3 WINTER 2011-2012 Mosquito Hill Nature Center CALENDAR OF EVENTS WINTER 2011-2012 Unless otherwise noted, advance registration and payment are required. Call 920.779.6433 or e-mail [email protected] Website: www.mosquitohill.com
exercise, increasing our speed and distance Watch for this icon in our Find us on Facebook — as the weeks progress. Best suited for calendar of events. a great place to check on teens and adults. If snow conditions are It denotes upcoming the day-to-day happenings not adequate, a vigorous hike will be Citizen Based Monitoring at MHNC. substituted. opportunities. $5/session or $20 for the entire series; includes snowshoe rental Leave No Family Inside: Snowshoe Trails Open and Registration and payment due December 30. Winter Survival Rentals Available (when Naturalist-led Snowshoe Walk conditions permit) Saturday, December 10, 12:30 – 3:00 PM Saturday, January 14, 9:00 – 11:00 AM Saturdays & Sundays, Winters in Wisconsin can be ever changing, 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM Strap on your shoes and explore so being prepared for outdoor adventures is the nature center grounds with important. In this class, you’ll learn ways to Please call ahead to check on snow Mosquito Hill naturalist Mary stay warm outside including fire starting and conditions and availability of rentals during Swifka. Check out winter birds, shelter building. We’ll also discuss a variety the week. Families with young children: try tracks and other animal signs, of adaptations that allows animals to survive out our smaller shoes for age four and older, and enjoy the center’s lowland Wisconsin’s winters. or bring a sled to pull your toddlers. forest. Warm up with some hot $6/person or $10/family Snowshoe Rental: $3.50/adults, $2.50/students & beverages afterwards. Registration and payment due ASAP. seniors; FOMH: no charge $6/adults, $4/students, seniors or Trail Use: no charge. Full Moon Series: Full Moon FOMH Snowshoe rental: $3.50/person, $2.50/youth up Names, Legends & Lore Leave No Family Inside: to age 14, or bring your own Wisconsin’s Owls Registration and payment due January 6. Saturday, December 10, 7:00 – 8:30 PM Saturday, January 7, 6:00 – 8:00 PM 27th Annual Mosquito Hill Learn about the various names Snowshow Races given to each month’s full moon, Listening to the hooting of as well as the explanations behind owls has to be one of life’s Saturday, January 21 the names. We will also uncover some of the most special pleasures. myths, legends and lore associated with the Learning more about See Page 8 for details. full moon. A short indoor program will be Wisconsin’s owls gives those calls even more followed by a full-moon hike. meaning. Join naturalist Jessica Miller $6/adults, $4/students, seniors, FOMH or $12/ as she introduces you to owl biology and family a number of live owls during an indoor Registration and payment due ASAP. presentation. Then head outdoors in search of these elusive nocturnal wonders. Christmas Bird Count $6/person or $10/Family Winter Family Fun Day Registration and payment due December 30. Friday, December 16, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Saturday, January 21, Serious Snowshoe Sundays 12 noon – 3:00 PM Take a break from the holiday hustle and join nature center January 8 & 22, February 5 & 19, Cost: $8/car staff and volunteers for a day See Page 8 for details. in the field counting birds. March 4, 12:00 Noon – 3:00 PM We’ll break for a potluck lunch, always featuring warm soups and yummy Are you serious about getting desserts. Call ahead if you would like to take in shape this winter? Don’t part. want to do it by yourself? Snowshoeing is a great No charge. cardiovascular workout. Start with an indoor program on a variety of different topics, then suit up 1 2 3 4 5 6 and hit the trails for a bout of invigorating VIEW FROM THE HILL 4 WINTER 2011-2012 Candlelight Snowshoe Walk Leopold Bench Building twentieth century and Workshop the many ways his land Saturdays, Jan. 28 & Feb. 11, ethic idea continues to be 6:30 – 9:00 PM Saturday, February 18, 1:00 – 3:00 PM applied all over the world today. Although probably Enjoy this self-led excursion Build your own best known as the author through the nature center’s rustic wooden of the classic A Sand lowland forest. Refreshments bench designed and County Almanac, Leopold will be served and all snowshoe made popular by is also renowned for his equipment will be provided. noted Wisconsin work as an educator, philosopher, forester, A $2 discount is available to conservationist Aldo ecologist and wilderness advocate. participants who bring their Leopold. Naturalist No charge own snowshoes. Mike Hibbard will lead you through the $8/adults, $5/students, seniors, FOMH or $25/ steps to create an attractive bench to grace Musky Magic family your patio or back yard. Registration and payment due January 20. $50/person, $45/students, seniors, FOMH Sunday, March 18, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Registration and payment due February 10. Leave No Family Inside: If you love musky fishing, Snowshoeing for Beginners you’ll love this show with our featured speakers, Jim Saric Saturday, February 4, 12:30 – 2:30 PM As the wheel of days and Shane Mason. More turns into darkness, than 30 vendors, poolside demonstrations, What a better way to door prizes and food and beverage sales get out and enjoy our it reveals the light make this a day not to be missed. This Wisconsin winters and hope of annual event is held at the New London than to experience it on Middle School. Tickets are $8/adults, $6/ snowshoes. Join naturalist students 14 and under, and for sale at the Jessica Miller as she door. guides you through the process of learning how to snowshoe (it’s so easy!). A guided hike around the nature center property will give you some practice CANCELLATION POLICY with the new footgear and a chance to learn about our winter world. Unfortunately, MHNC is not $6/person or $10/Family immune to the current economic Registration and payment due January 28. Leopold Education Project challenges. Therefore, we find it Some Endangered Evening Saturday, March 3, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM necessary to adhere fully to the following policy: Friday, February 10, 6:30 – 8:00 PM The Leopold Education Project is MHNC staff reserves the right In the not too distant future a curriculum based to cancel a program if minimum we may look up and find on Aldo Leopold’s enrollment has not been met by the the stars have “disappeared” classic, A Sand because of light pollution. County Almanac. registration deadline. If we need to Naturalist Steve Petznick will Each participant cancel a program, your payment explain how light pollution will receive a copy of A Sand County Almanac, will be refunded in full. If you can affect energy consumption, wildlife and an activity guide and other handouts (a $50 need to cancel, please notify us at health. Then find out how you can take part value). This class is perfect for teachers, least 48 hours before the class. If in one of three GLOBE at Night international naturalists, group leaders and others we are able to fill your spot, you programs held this winter and spring. Learn interested in fostering a relationship between will be refunded in full; if not, we how to measure the night sky brightness in children and the natural world. your area and submit your observations to a $20/person will refund 50% of your fee. If you website from your computer or smart phone. Registration and payment due February 24. cancel less than 48 hours before $6/adults, $4 students, seniors, FOMH or $12/ the class, your entire registration family Green Fire Screening fee will be forfeited. Registration and payment due February 3. Saturday, March 3, 1:00 PM Please help us ensure the success of our programs by registering Green Fire, the first full- and paying before the deadline. length, high definition documentary film ever We cannot guarantee your place made about legendary in a class unless payment has conservationist Aldo been received. Thank you for Leopold, explores his life understanding. in the early part of the
VIEW FROM THE HILL 5 WINTER 2011-2012 5 Ways to Support MHNC and Do Your Holiday Shopping at the Same Time
• Pick up a sweatshirt, tee-shirt, The benefits? reusable shopping bag, book or Y o u ’ r e prairie seeds s h o p p i n g locally, your • Give a gift membership to Friends money stays of Mosquito Hill in your • Give a donation in honor of a friend community, or loved one donations and memberships • Pay for two spots in a workshop or are tax deductible, and don’t forget class and invite a friend that warm, fuzzy feeling you get by supporting a charitable organization. • Check with your employer to see if Thanks for your support! v they have a matching gifts program
Wish List
• Sunflower and Nyjer (thistle) seed • Gallon-size zipper-type bags Please contact staff for details on • Two-pocket paper folders • Rubbermaid tubs, various sizes brand, size, amounts, etc. or how you may make a contribution to purchase any of • Tape measures (12) • Fiskars pruning saws (12) these items. Thanks! • Stop watches (12) • New/gently used children’s wagons
VIEW FROM THE HILL 6 WINTER 2011-2012 The Volunteer Voice You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give. – Winston Churchill
to our nature center by a donor? Could our critters be “adopted” Let’s Get Out of the Box! by someone so their food would be provided? Are there service or Pat Lund-Moe, Volunteer Coordinator youth groups looking for a place to meet and serve? Maybe you have some answers or more questions to ponder. hallenges abound these days for so many of us. We As we prepare for this special time of year, let’s get out of our boxes are all being asked to give and think about what each of us can do, all year round, to help each C other enjoy and save what we have right here at Mosquito Hill. Just more, conserve more and make it all work with fewer resources. So, let’s spending time here is a gift in itself, so bring someone out for a visit v talk about our wonderful spot in the to savor the gifts offered, free of charge! world here at MHNC. What can we do, maybe a little bit differently, outside the box, and get even better Volunteers results? are the gifts Our funding from Outagamie County decreases each year, just like that keep on giving, all other county programs. Volunteers are being called on more and and giving and giving. more to stretch themselves further and further during these difficult times. So, what can we do? I am trying to think of tasks the staff does that could be done by volunteers. Where can we pull donations from Happy Holidays to all of our wonderful that we haven’t before? Is there a new way to ask? We have found volunteers from all of the staff! that donors are often able to give products more easily than money. Before we throw things away, let’s think about how they could be re-used. What is being purchased regularly that could be “gifted”
Contact Volunteer Coordinator Pat Lund-Moe Volunteer Opportunities email: [email protected] Phone: 920-779-6433
We need YOU to help the following events and duties succeed. Grab your spot while there’s still time!
Snowshoe Rental: When Candlelight Snowshoe Walks, January 28 and February 11: Tiki the trails are ready, we torches are set-up and kept lit. Snacks and beverages are kept on the want to be too! Help table. Sound like fun? weekend visitors get ready Musky Magic, Sunday March 18: Yup, everything you ever needed to explore the nature center to know about musky fishing, but never thought to ask! OR, you in a whole new way. We’ll could opt for serving up some great food, taking admissions, selling give you the information the winning raffle tickets, setting up or taking down. It’s a busy day you need. Earn free rental but, as always, we make it FUN! for every shift you work! Volunteer Anna Schneider finished up But that’s not all! Behind the scenes of any event we are looking for Winter Family Fun Day, people to assist with food preparation, set-up, clean-up, and a variety her summer hours by helping with the January 21: Timing, Monarch Tagging program in September. of other chores. We often need coverage in the office while staff is cheering, directing the out of the building, or help with mailings and copying. To have a snowshoe racers in the truly rewarding experience, consider working with the school groups morning, cooking and serving up hot beverages and soup, having fun that travel to Mosquito Hill. The staff provides training, shadowing with games in the snow and crafts inside. There is a spot just for you! opportunities and team teaching. YOU could do it!
VIEW FROM THE HILL 7 WINTER 2011-2012 Published by Friends of Mosquito Hill, Inc. NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE Mosquito Hill Nature Center PAID N3880 Rogers Rd. • New London, WI 54961 APPLETON, Wl www.mosquitohill.org (Friends of Mosquito Hill) PERMIT NO. 46 www.mosquitohill.com (Mosquito Hill Nature Center)
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Fun in the Snow for Everyone! Winter Family Fun Day & Snowshoe Races Held January 21
Hill Snowshoe Races. The scenic hen take part in an afternoon 1, 3 and 5-mile routes are located of fun activities for all ages. in our lowland forest. Trails are TWinter Family Fun Day will groomed and fairly flat, with the 3 be held from 12 noon to 3:00 PM. and 5-mile courses skirting the Wolf The otter slide will be laid out for River and oxbow ponds and 800- wee ones, take a short snowshoe meter youth course near the lowland walk with your family, watch a dog forest and tall grass prairie. Race sled demonstration (and maybe take fees include refreshments, a chili a ride), join in some fun snow-filled lunch, registration gift, prizes to top games, then warm up with a bowl of finishers and admission to Winter chili or some s’mores by the campfire. Family Fun Day. Entry fees are The cost is $8/car. gnore those folks who complain non-refundable. Registration opens about winter. Here’s your day at 8:30 AM w/staggered race times. Check www.mosquitohill.com for Ito come out and play in the Fees range from $15 - $25/person. updates on both events. v snow with us. We’ll kick off the day with the 27th Annual Mosquito